Full Nelson opening draws hundreds in Squamish

Corporate sponsors help promote downhill bike trail grand opening

Photo by John FrenchWHEEL DEAL Full Nelson opened in Squamish on Saturday with a great deal of interest.

Photo by John FrenchTRAIL TRIBUTE Mountain bike riders from all over flocked to Squamish to be amongst the first to ride a newly constructed trail called Full Nelson.

Photo by John FrenchON THE ROAD AGAIN The newest trail in Squamish is accessed off the Garibaldi Park Road to Diamond Head.

It isn’t very often that a new trail gets the kind of attention Full Nelson had when a grand opening was held to mark the official first day of operations for the trail in Squamish.

A company called Dream Wizards built the trail just outside of Garibaldi Provincial Park over the course of a seven-month period.

More than 250 people gathered at the trail on Saturday, May 5 to mark the grand opening of Full Nelson. Red Bull was on hand as a trail sponsor along with a number of bike manufacturers, bike shops and other mountain bike companies to make the official opening an event.

According to the primary trail builder, Ted Tempany, the trail was constructed three times with the first builds used for the production of a mountain bike film and the final build the one that can now be ridden by most mountain bike riders, regardless of ability.

Tempany said the downhill track is a one-kilometre trail that can bite.

“At the top, I’ve told more than a few people to make sure you roll everything, get to know the trail,” said Tempany.

He said it is the kind of trail that should be ridden a few times to get to know it before anyone attempts to ride it quickly. There are many places along the trail where it is easy to build up speed and get into the air.

“Get to know the trail and it will open itself up when you’re ready to go faster,” Tempany said.

Check the Thursday edition of Pique Newsmagazine for more on the grand opening of Full Nelson.